Dynamite's Bond comics and graphic novels

1457910147

Comments

  • edited November 2015 Posts: 1,661
    Read the issue. Spoilers:
    Vargr starts with a violent fight in Helsinki, Finland, between 007 and a criminal responsible for the death of 008. I thought Bond's first dialogue was a little too on-the-nose but I suppose it's possible some readers may not realize it's Bond! Writer Warren Ellis wanted to make it clear. This is James Bond, licensed to kill!

    Bond returns to London and given his new mission.

    A new drug is on the market and Bond has to stop further production.

    I don't know if Warren Ellis was inspired by the recent 'Idris Elba' debate because M is now black.

    Bond goes to Q and told he can't use his new gun and new bullets. A new law has been passed preventing 00 agents using their firearms within the UK. I don't know if that makes much sense but it's an interesting 'what if...' scenario. Mr Ellis wouldn't create that scenario and forget about it so I expect Bond to get into some battles without his weapon.

    A new villain is introduced at the end of the issue. A genetically enhanced henchman type. He is assigned the mission to kill Bond before he meets his contact in Berlin. The henchman's name is Masters - the same as the artist!

    The first few pages didn't feel particularly Bondian. I though the start might have mirrored the films pre-credit scenes, but instead we get a grim and violent encounter.

    I was concerned
    the junkies scene
    was going to make it feel a bit too grim and contemporary but the storyline soon introduced classic Bond elements.

    There's some humorous banter between the characters which is a nice contrast to the grim opening.

    The art is very good. Jason Masters' Bond doesn't look like he's based it on any James Bond actors. It's his own interpretation of the character.

    I enjoyed Vargr issue 1. 8 out of 10. Will purchase part 2.


  • Lancaster007Lancaster007 Shrublands Health Clinic, England
    Posts: 1,874
    dragonsky wrote: »
    I'm really looking forward to the novel adaptations. Maybe the only chance we'll get for a faithful Moonraker!

    Aren't there comics that are novel adaptations already ?

    Before the movie series started, there was a British newspaper comic strip series. Those were generally fairly faithful to the novels although not always: for contractual reasons Thunderball ended rather abruptly with a caption: Bond finds and recovers the bombs, the bad guys all died, the end. Eventually, the series was revived with some newly-written stories created specifically for the strip. These comics were compiled into a series released by Titan Books beginning in the 1980s. More info on this topic is available here: https://www.mi6-hq.com/sections/comics/

    All of the early comic strips were told in first person by Bond, so weren't really faithful adaptations of the books, hopefully the new ones will be. One of the best (having dropped the first person perspective by then) is OHMSS, followed by YOLT which is also very good.
  • Posts: 1,181
    Does anyone know if the Dynamite James Bond comics available in electronic format? I couldn't seem to find it on their site.
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    Ed83 wrote: »
    Does anyone know if the Dynamite James Bond comics available in electronic format? I couldn't seem to find it on their site.
    Try ComiXology.
  • Posts: 1,181
    It is available on that site for $3.99. A bit strange that Dynamite doesn't have it on their digital site. Their digital copies go for $1.99. Thanks @ClarkDevlin !
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    My pleasure, Ed! :)
  • Posts: 9,737
    Read the first issue its ok the feel is an odd mix of Moore and Craig. What I find interesting it the character or Mr Masters is it possible Ellis is using the name of Phillips Masters from the short story of Quantum of Solace.

    Anyways since we have little modern bond outside the films I welcome Vargr and hope we get more looking foward to issue 2
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    I thought the Mr. Masters was named after the artist of the comic book, then again, it might be Phillip Masters himself. Let's just hope his wife doesn't make an appearance.
  • mcdonbbmcdonbb deep in the Heart of Texas
    Posts: 4,116
    We need more fans discovering Vargr. Even if you're not a typical comic book reader please check this out.

    We have part of a new modern Bond thriller potentially every month ...that's amazing :D
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    Oh yes! :D
  • mcdonbbmcdonbb deep in the Heart of Texas
    Posts: 4,116
    Any posted previews of issue #2. Reassuring that a release date for #3 has been given.

    Too early but is Ellis writing the second arc?
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    Posts: 13,882
    I have the first issue, and am waiting for issue 2, which on sale Dec 2nd.
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    mcdonbb wrote: »
    Too early but is Ellis writing the second arc?
    Yes, Ellis will be there for the second arc. The third issue arrives on January 6.
  • mcdonbbmcdonbb deep in the Heart of Texas
    Posts: 4,116
    Thank you
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    I've just read the new issue. If there is one thing I'd like to complain about, I don't like the pacing.

    Spoilers, proceed at your own caution.
    Bond arrives, he's ambushed, he makes it to the station alive and well, few words, he meets his target, done. Like how long would this have taken in a film? 10 minutes at maximum?
  • mcdonbbmcdonbb deep in the Heart of Texas
    edited December 2015 Posts: 4,116
    I have not purchased #2 yet. Yea I think once I've collected all 6 parts I'll go back and re-read from the start.

  • eddychaputeddychaput Montreal, Canada
    Posts: 364
    I've just read the new issue. If there is one thing I'd like to complain about, I don't like the pacing.

    Spoilers, proceed at your own caution.
    Bond arrives, he's ambushed, he makes it to the station alive and well, few words, he meets his target, done. Like how long would this have taken in a film? 10 minutes at maximum?

    I actually wrote about the series thus far for a web site I contribute to. I briefly touched on the nature of the beast at hand: a 22 page book that can only communicate so much info before us having to wait another 30-odd days to get more info. It's certainly makes for a vastly different experience when compared to sitting down to read Fleming or a continuation novel or watching a film. In those cases, all the info is right there. If we want to take it in in one sitting, time permitting, we can. Here, we can't do that because that's not how monthly, serialized comics work these days. It's different, I'll give you that much. I'm still enjoying thus far, but I'd be lying through my teeth if I said I prefer reading a monthly comic over reading an entire novel or watching a movie.
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    edited December 2015 Posts: 15,423
    eddychaput wrote: »
    I've just read the new issue. If there is one thing I'd like to complain about, I don't like the pacing.

    Spoilers, proceed at your own caution.
    Bond arrives, he's ambushed, he makes it to the station alive and well, few words, he meets his target, done. Like how long would this have taken in a film? 10 minutes at maximum?

    I actually wrote about the series thus far for a web site I contribute to. I briefly touched on the nature of the beast at hand: a 22 page book that can only communicate so much info before us having to wait another 30-odd days to get more info. It's certainly makes for a vastly different experience when compared to sitting down to read Fleming or a continuation novel or watching a film. In those cases, all the info is right there. If we want to take it in in one sitting, time permitting, we can. Here, we can't do that because that's not how monthly, serialized comics work these days. It's different, I'll give you that much. I'm still enjoying thus far, but I'd be lying through my teeth if I said I prefer reading a monthly comic over reading an entire novel or watching a movie.
    Thanks for the info. And I understand that about the serialization and all. But, for one issue it's too brief. The comic books prior to this one from the 1990s told us enough of adventures we needed to be filled with. From Permission To Die to The Quasimodo Gambit. Each issue of these comics gave us enough to terminate our thirst, but this one doesn't seem to get it at all. Like I said, too short. And I do suspect if you collect the entire length of the adventure, all the six issues into one and have it scripted for the screen, it might give you 45 minutes of runtime at most. Almost like one episode of a television series split into parts with annoying adverts in the midst of them.
  • I've just read the new issue. If there is one thing I'd like to complain about, I don't like the pacing.

    I understand your point entirely -- it's essentially the same one I was making re: the first issue! I enjoyed this second issue a bit more than the first, there's a decent ratio of sex-to-violence-to-plot-development-to-Bond-being-Bond (loved the little sequence about getting decent coffee in Berlin!) ...but at the end of the day, I suspect this series is going to read best as a compilation rather than in monthly installments.
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    I've just read the new issue. If there is one thing I'd like to complain about, I don't like the pacing.

    I understand your point entirely -- it's essentially the same one I was making re: the first issue! I enjoyed this second issue a bit more than the first, there's a decent ratio of sex-to-violence-to-plot-development-to-Bond-being-Bond (loved the little sequence about getting decent coffee in Berlin!) ...but at the end of the day, I suspect this series is going to read best as a compilation rather than in monthly installments.
    I've no problem with the plot, and I think it's decent. Loved the struggle-and-fight sequence in the car, but as I said, it's tad too short. For instance, let's take a look at Serpent's Tooth. My favourite Bond comic book. In the first issue we've had:
    1-The Introduction to the main event.
    2-Bond receiving a phonecall from M and facing danger on holiday at the same time.
    3-Bond flirts with Moneypenny and gets into M's office for mission briefing.
    4-He travels to a location to meet a contact and is ambushed instantly.
    5-He meets the local authorities who helped a fellow 00 agent previously.
    6-He encounters the main villain in a casino he runs, using a cover.
    7-He gets into bed with a Bond Girl with actual discussion in the midst.
    8-The next day he goes to the villain's industrial headquarters and is discovered for who and what he is, gets into action, breaks into the vaults, engages in a shootout, steals important memos and escapes.
    9-The main villain reveals a horrifying plan and what he will do next.

    All this in one issue. See where I'm coming from?
  • mcdonbbmcdonbb deep in the Heart of Texas
    Posts: 4,116
    Vargr may have constraints compacting the story that ST and other graphic novels did not.

    @eddychaput I think I found your site by searching for a preview for Vargr #2. If the same site I enjoyed it.
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    You know, however? Coming into a conclusion... I may now see this kind of series as ongoing ones rather than titles of their own. I don't know. They may be representing arcs, but unlike the titles prior to this one from the 90s, perhaps Dynamite Entertainment will have the James Bond series be... a series rather than arcs. Perhaps we will have one character appearing in VARGR, who might play a key role to the plot, but lose him or her without explanation, leaving it to be seen as a plot hole until he or she comes back in another arc. It is perhaps the just another day in the office kind of continuation rather than actual one-offs. If that makes sense.
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    Having said that, Issue #4 has just been revealed with a release date of February 3.
    JamesBond04CovAReardon.jpg

    "James Bond is alone in Berlin, with nothing but the clothes on his back and the gun in his hand. When help is offered from an unexpected source, Bond has no choice but to accept it - even though it may guarantee that he doesn't live through the night."
  • eddychaputeddychaput Montreal, Canada
    Posts: 364
    While I find the covers to be arresting, and in some cases quite different from what we would get from a Bond movie poster these days, what's up with Dynamite revealing covers two months in advance? Surprise us!
  • eddychaputeddychaput Montreal, Canada
    Posts: 364
    mcdonbb wrote: »
    Vargr may have constraints compacting the story that ST and other graphic novels did not.

    @eddychaput I think I found your site by searching for a preview for Vargr #2. If the same site I enjoyed it.

    If it's the one that goes 'pop' then yes, that's us. Thanks.
  • Posts: 1,181
    I bought the digital versions of #1 and #2 last night and read #1 last night. I really enjoyed it. It seemed a bit short, but overall I really like both the story and artwork. One bit of warning though. I was under the impression that the Digital Versions through Comixology were DRM-free, but unfortunately they are not. You can either view them online or through their app. Not a huge problem, but just thought I'd warn anyone else who is getting the digital versions.

    I'm going to order hardcopies of these as well, but I love having ebooks and digital copies for convenience.
  • mcdonbbmcdonbb deep in the Heart of Texas
    Posts: 4,116
    eddychaput wrote: »
    mcdonbb wrote: »
    Vargr may have constraints compacting the story that ST and other graphic novels did not.

    @eddychaput I think I found your site by searching for a preview for Vargr #2. If the same site I enjoyed it.

    If it's the one that goes 'pop' then yes, that's us. Thanks.

    Yup :)
  • mcdonbbmcdonbb deep in the Heart of Texas
    Posts: 4,116
    Double post ...sorry. but I just purchased #2 and I enjoyed it. The dialogue seems a bit off ...everyone is way too jolly, but I enjoyed none the less.

    Yes brief but the action is easily expandable in your mind (I've added the SP helicopter PTS except changed to Helsinki. No collapsing building but crashing balcony and Bond tethered to climbing gear falling down in front of a lorry. Imagine seeing Bond this side of the windscreen bouncing and dangling giving the driver a wtf look.)

    Anywhoo way too much information... but I am enjoying the story. Has kind of a Dr. No (the novel) feel to it for me.
  • Posts: 5,774
    eddychaput wrote: »
    While I find the covers to be arresting, and in some cases quite different from what we would get from a Bond movie poster these days, what's up with Dynamite revealing covers two months in advance? Surprise us!

    It's the case for every comic book and graphic novel from every publisher. Not showing the cover is the exception rather than the rule, and it's been that way for a long time.
    I've just read the new issue. If there is one thing I'd like to complain about, I don't like the pacing.

    I understand your point entirely -- it's essentially the same one I was making re: the first issue! I enjoyed this second issue a bit more than the first, there's a decent ratio of sex-to-violence-to-plot-development-to-Bond-being-Bond (loved the little sequence about getting decent coffee in Berlin!) ...but at the end of the day, I suspect this series is going to read best as a compilation rather than in monthly installments.
    I've no problem with the plot, and I think it's decent. Loved the struggle-and-fight sequence in the car, but as I said, it's tad too short. For instance, let's take a look at Serpent's Tooth. My favourite Bond comic book. In the first issue we've had:
    1-The Introduction to the main event.
    2-Bond receiving a phonecall from M and facing danger on holiday at the same time.
    3-Bond flirts with Moneypenny and gets into M's office for mission briefing.
    4-He travels to a location to meet a contact and is ambushed instantly.
    5-He meets the local authorities who helped a fellow 00 agent previously.
    6-He encounters the main villain in a casino he runs, using a cover.
    7-He gets into bed with a Bond Girl with actual discussion in the midst.
    8-The next day he goes to the villain's industrial headquarters and is discovered for who and what he is, gets into action, breaks into the vaults, engages in a shootout, steals important memos and escapes.
    9-The main villain reveals a horrifying plan and what he will do next.

    All this in one issue. See where I'm coming from?

    Yes, but "Serpent's Tooth" was in a different format (the Prestige Format), with a bigger page count per issue. Here, we have the traditional floppy, with 22 pages, instead of a squarebound issue, with 48 to 64 pages.

Sign In or Register to comment.